Martin durick



(No Model.)

M. DURIGK. BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. No. 403,743. Patented May 211889.

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MARTIX DFRICK, OF BUFFALO, Nl lll' YORK.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,743, dated May 21,1889.

Application filed September 24, 1888. Serial No. 286,151. (No model.)

To all 1117007711 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN DURICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding-Bridges forPianos, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofsounding-bridges used in pianos and otherstringed instruments; and itconsists of a recessed metallic strip of metal, which is curved inconformity with the wrest-plank of a piano and in cross-section forms ahollow convexed bridge with a small rib or projection in its top surfaceupon which the wire rests.

The object of my invention is to increase the volume of sound.

I will now proceed to describe and claim the manner in which I proposecarrying out my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of a wrest-plank, showingmyimproved sounding-bridge in position with a wire resting upon it. Fig.2 is a plan view of a wrest-plank with my improved sounding-bridge in.position thereon. Fig. 213 is a cross-section of a solid metallicsoumling-bridge, and Fig. l shows another well-known sounding-bridge.Fig. 5

shows a modified form of my improvement.

Referring to the drawings, a is the wrestplank, to which the keys Z) aresecured through the plate a.

c is the sounding-board, and d-the center bridge.

c is the plate having the pins e, to which the fixed ends of the wiresare secured.

The construction 3' ust outlined is of old and well-known form. I haveadded my improved sounding-bridge f, (shown in cross-section in Fig. 1,)having the recess f in its bottom surface, and the small projection onits top surface, forming the contacting surface for the wires passingover it. Heretofore it has been the custom of manufacturers of pianos toconstruct their soumling-bridges either entirely of metal, forming asolid piece, as shown in Fig. 3, or of wood having a sunken wire on itstop surface, as seen in Fig. i.

It will be seen that with my improved construction much better resultscan be obtained, as the vibrations of the sounding-bridge will greatlyincrease the volume of sound produced by the instrument.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of so u n din g-ln-idge,\vliiclidilfe rs from the bridge shown in Fig. 1 in having the bottom wall fforming a hollow strip of metal, and which could be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

I claim A bridge for stringed instruments, consisting of a semitubularmetallic strip, its open side adapted to rest upon the wrest-plank, andits upper side or apex. having a raised rib or projection upon which thestrings rest, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN DI'RlC K.

\Vitnesses:

'W. T. MILLER, OTTO IIODDICK.

